On 4 February 2020 – World Cancer Day – the European Commission started its outreach on Europe’s Cancer Plan at an event in the European Parliament in Brussels, supported by the MEPs Against Cancer Interest Group.

The development of the EU Cancer Plan will be closely linked to the Mission on Cancer. Europe’s beating cancer plan aims to reduce the cancer burden for patients, their families and health systems. It will address cancer related inequalities between and within Member States with actions to support, coordinate and complement Member States’ efforts. The EU cancer plan will include a combination of measures with tangible and citizen-centred actions designed to make a real difference to people across the EU. Its primary focus will be on initiatives within the EU. The Mission on Cancer of Horizon Europe will be an important crosscutting delivery mechanism for the Plan, providing evidence-based knowledge to target specific action from cancer prevention to social integration.  

The plan will focus on four key components:

• Prevention
• Early detection and diagnosis
• Treatment and care
• Quality of life for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers

Further details on the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan can be found here.